15 Windows 3.x Shells + Install Files

by: shotter_nail

Publication date: 2023-07-17
Usage: Public Domain Mark 1.0
Topics: Windows 3.0, Windows 3.1, Replacement Shell, Calmira, Calypso, Winbar, New Wave, Norton Desktop, Central Point Desktop, Silver Wolf, Easy Desktop, Workplace Shell, Aporia, HDC Windows Express, Wayfarer Shell, Microsoft BOB, Packard Bell Navigator, Xerox Rooms, Xerox Global View
Language: English
Item Size: 1.3G

These are all the alternative shells I've been able to find for Windows 3.x.

There are 15 different shells with 34 versions in total in the attached zip file.

They range in form and function from the very good (Calmira, Calypso, Silver Wolf) to the very awful (Microsoft Bob).

Most of these are freeware, but a couple (Norton Desktop, Central Point Desktop, Xerox) may be shareware.

I've not done a review document on these, so you can download and try whatever takes your fancy.

Based on my impressions, I've categorised them into 3 main and 3 sub categories:

01 - Excellent / Very Good / Good
       01a - Windows 95 style
       01b - Top menu bar style
       01c   - Neither of the above
02 - SoSo
03 - Poor / Awful

Your experience of them may be different so rather than quibble with my assessment, download the zip and try them out for yourself, as your experience and opinion of them may be different to mine.

All the install files I have are in the attached .zip file.

There are also screenshots of each shell in the folders - note that for Calmira Longhorn and Calmira XP I couldn't get the screen resolution in Virtualbox set to suit them, so some solid colours are rather low-res.

I've also created floppy images and/or ISO images for each one (if they didn't have one) so that I could install them in either DOS or Windows 3.1 and these image files are included in the relevant folders.

The Windows 3.x shells in the attached zip file are:

The Excellent, Very Good and Good:
01a - Calmira I, Calmira II, Calmira Longhorn, Calmira XP (10 versions)
01a - Calypso v2.1
01a - Winbar v1.2
01b - HP New Wave Desktop
01b - Norton Desktop (5 versions)
01b - Central Point Desktop (2 versions)
01b - Silver Wolf Desktop
01c - Easy Desktop v5.0d
01c - Workplace Shell (IBM)

The SoSo:
02   - Aporia Shell
02   - HDC Windows Express
02   - Wayfarer Shell

The Poor and the Awful:
03   - Packard Bell Navigator (4 versions)
03   - Xerox Rooms / Global View (3 versions)
03   - Microsoft BOB

There are some excellent Windows 3.x shells in the zip, so download it and try a few.